Easy Shrimp Tacos

Name: Quick and Easy Shrimp Tacos
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh or frozen shrimp; 1 pound bag mini bell peppers ((or about 3 medium bell peppers)); 1 tablespoon canola or other neutral oil; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 8-10 small corn or flour tortillas; Black beans, shredded cheese, salsa, hot sauce, shredded lettuce, and/or cilantro for serving

byAmy Palanjian

Updated July 14, 2024

1 Comments

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With just 10 minutes of cooking time, you can serve up these Easy Shrimp Tacos with sweet bell peppers to the whole family. Add some simple sides and everyone is sure to be happy!

shrimp fajitas for kids and parents on plates

Making Shrimp Tacos at home is an easy way to change up your family’s favorite tacos and they are so darn quick! The family dinner is filled with protein from the shrimp and vitamin A and C from the bell peppers—yet the flavors are mild enough for even the kids at the table.

I love this method since it’s easy, but also because of how versatile it is. I can use whichever kind of shrimp I want, which means I can look for the ones that are on sale. Or I can change up the veggies and the sides.

It’s also easy to deconstruct this recipe to serve it as a baby-led weaning recipe, an easy toddler dinner, or a family-style meal.

(You may also like my Easy Shrimp and Noodles, Salmon Nuggets, Fish Sticks, or Teriyaki Shrimp.)

Ingredients You Need
Step by Step Instructions
Family Style Tacos
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving Suggestions
Best Tips for Success
Quick and Easy Shrimp Tacos Recipe

Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here!

Ingredients You Need

To make this quick shrimp tacos recipe, you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand and ready to go.

Fresh or frozen raw shrimp: I like to buy responsibly farmed shrimp from Whole Foods since the price tends to be affordable, but use whichever type you prefer. And I usually buy frozen shrimp since I tend to shop for my meat proteins in bulk, but you could use fresh shrimp if it’s available.
Bell peppers: You can use fresh or frozen sliced bell peppers in this recipe. You can also add in sliced onion if your family enjoys it.
Corn tortillas: We usually have this recipe with corn tortillas, but you can use any type that you prefer.
Spices including ground cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt.

Step by Step Instructions

Here’s a preview of how to make this shrimp taco recipe so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full information, including the amounts and the timing.

Step 1. Thaw the shrimp according to the package. You can always rinse under cold water briefly to finish the thawing. Remove the tail and the shell and discard.

Step 2. Slice the peppers and add to a skillet with oil. Toss with spices and cook.

Step 3. Add the shrimp and finish cooking.

Step 4. Serve with warmed tortillas, sides, and toppings.

Family Style Tacos

This dinner is an easy one to serve to everyone at the table, toddlers on up, when you serve it family-style. Put the bowls of different foods onto the table and let everyone help themselves to the items they’d like to eat.

This can help picky eaters to feel in control of their meal and help the cook be able to sit down as the same time as everyone else since they’re not stuck plating everyone’s food. This is a good dinner to try if you’re working on implementing the Division of Responsibility at mealtimes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What goes with shrimp tacos?

I like to serve up a simple side of beans and shredded cheese with this dinner. The kids also usually enjoy a side of fruit. You could also add coleslaw or shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, and/or hot sauce for topping the fajitas as well.

How do you cook frozen raw shrimp?

Thaw the shrimp according to the package. You can always rinse under cold water briefly to finish the thawing. Remove the tail and the shell and discard. Add to hot pan and cook until pink.

Do I have to defrost frozen shrimp before cooking?

If you try to cook shrimp from frozen, it could end up being rubbery. It is best to thaw the shrimp according to the package before cooking.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve up a simple side of slow cooker black beans and shredded cheese with this dinner. The kids also usually enjoy a side of fruit. You could also add coleslaw or shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, and/or hot sauce for topping the fajitas as well.

If you prefer, you can serve the shrimp and peppers mixture over rice, quinoa, or even pasta for a fajita bowl. It’s a fun way to mix up this recipe.

Best Tips for Success

Peel the shrimp before you cook it to save yourself work when it’s cooked.
Put the lid on while cooking to shorten the cooking time and to ensure that the peppers are nicely cooked through.
Use soft corn or flour tortillas, depending on what you prefer. (Use corn to make these fajitas gluten-free.)
To warm tortillas, dampen a paper towel. Wrap around a stack of tortillas and warm in the microwave for 60 seconds, flipping over halfway through. (To do this in the oven, wrap a stack of tortillas in foil and heat on 300 degrees F for 6-8 minutes or until warmed.
Do Ahead: Chop the peppers ahead of time to make the process of making dinner faster.
Serve with: Simple sides such as black beans, warmed frozen corn, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, and or a tropical fruit like pineapple or mango. (Those kid-friendly fruits pair well with Mexican flavors!)